BEFORE This cottage home was in need of an update. The dark accent wall and ready-made window treatments made the room feel even smaller than it's modest size. A new furniture arrangement and bright new colors were added, along with crown molding, hardwood floors, new bookcases under the windows, and beautiful new artwork and accessories.

Located on a wooded lot on the south side of Mount Orford in Estrie, this country house is designed to enjoy views of the wooded slope down to a stream at the bottom of the valley and rising to the opposite cliff. The south offers a splendid view of distant mountains. Of modest size, the house is simple, modern and showcases natural materials. It opens towards the forest and the landscape while preserving the intimacy of the customers. The interior is spacious; the living spaces are communicating and friendly, with a high ceiling above the living room and a large picture window in front of the master bedroom, on the mezzanine. The living areas open onto an outdoor terrace that anchors the house to its rocky terrain, protected from the weather and hidden from the street. The rock of the land is highlighted at the edge of the terrace, where a rock face down the slope. A large roof overhang protects the house from the sun in the summer, and the low-level concrete floors absorb sunlight in the winter. The house has been designed according to the criteria of LEED and Novoclimat.

Devereux Beach House Our client presented Flavin Architects with a unique challenge. On a site that previously hosted two houses, our client asked us to design a modestly sized house and separate art studio. Both structures reduce the height and bulk of the original buildings. The modern concrete house we designed is situated on the brow of a steep cliff overlooking Marblehead harbor. The concrete visually anchors the house to stone outcroppings on the property, and the low profile ensures the structure doesn’t conflict with the surround of traditional, gabled homes. Three primary concrete walls run north to south in parallel, forming the structural walls of the home. The entry sequence is carefully considered. The front door is hidden from view from the street. An entry path leads to an intimate courtyard, from which the front door is first visible. Upon entering, the visitor gets the first glimpse of the sea, framed by a portal of cast-in-place concrete. The kitchen, living, and dining space have a soaring 10-foot ceiling creating an especially spacious sense of interiority. A cantilevered deck runs the length of the living room, with a solid railing providing privacy from beach below. Where the house grows from a single to a two-story structure, the concrete walls rise magisterially to the full height of the building. The exterior concrete walls are accented with zinc gutters and downspouts, and wooden Ipe slats which softly filter light through the windows.

modest size contemporary kitchen. modern mosaic tiles.
Example of a mid-sized trendy galley light wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, glass sheet backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This modest sized kitchen shows what's possible with a little creativity but not a lot of space. The modern composite material countertop surround the kitchen and light blue wood cabinets. The island, interestingly enough was painted a slightly different shade of blue, perhaps to draw attention to it. Walk in closet sits in one corner. Photo by Trevor Ward

The Canyon makes every bit of its 1201 square feet count, offering great comfort in a modestly sized single level plan. The spacious living room adjoins the dining room, and the efficiently-planned kitchen boasts ample counter space and cupboard storage. An expansive master suite features a dual vanity bathroom and a generous closet. The other two sizeable bedrooms—one of which may be converted into an optional den—boast large closets and share the second bathroom. It’s no surprise this home is as popular as ever.

This modestly sized transitional kitchen lives up to its name with soft and warm accents in every space. A counter-top height arched cutout in the wall separating the living room and kitchen space allows easy arm's length access to the perfect little beverage and coffee bar setup we designed, featuring a bar sink and plentiful base storage flanked by a beautiful decorative backsplash. Many avid cooks love having a recessed chef’s block located somewhere on their kitchen island, and this KI client was no different. Unlike the more traditionally thick chef’s block, the homeowner opted for a thinner and more streamlined design giving it a near flush install with the counter-top. You will notice it strategically located right next to the kitchen sink on one of the two facing islands with double pullout trash storage below to conveniently brush the chopped leftovers into and stainless dishwasher on the left. On the other side of this island, we designed in a stainless under-counter beverage refrigerator with pull-out trash to the left. A transitional induction cooktop rests on the other island just across from the seating area, giving the homeowner the option to easily converse with family and friends while cooking a meal. Just below the cooktop, you will notice plentiful pullout storage for pots and pans. Last but certainly not least is the creatively designed side-by-side Frigidaire stainless refrigerator and freezer encased in a custom built box stained to match the beige cabinets throughout the kitchen. They are flanked on either side by floating shelves with base pullout storage on the left and an under-counter oven on the right. All of these features combined with the tile flooring and ceiling accented by weathered wood beams and rustic hanging light fixture give this kitchen a truly warm and inviting glow.

Custom Glass can help even modest sized rooms feel spacious.
Example of a mid-sized transitional master white tile and marble tile marble floor and white floor corner shower design in Denver with white cabinets, a hinged shower door, recessed-panel cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and gray countertops

It will be hard to find a more elegant stand on which to display your favorite potted plants than our Peacock Steps Stand. Offering three cascading steps, a short railing on one side, and wonderful scrollwork and diamond-shaped supports that reflect the magnificent plumes of a peacock, this beautifully handcrafted piece is sure to capture attention wherever you place it! Made of sturdy, black powder-coated wrought iron, it's as durable as it is attractive. The Peacock Steps Plant Stand holds two 10-inch pots and one 8-inch pot. Measuring 36 inches wide, 13 inches deep, and 33 inches high, it's small enough to fit most patios, living rooms, or even modestly sized gardening areas, but large enough to create an impressive display anywhere. Dimensions: 36" W x 13" D x 33" H; Weight: 35 pounds.

Expansive flagstone patio nestled into a modest sized rear garden. Stone wall and water feature included. Charles W. Bowers/Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc.

Perfect design to expand a modest sized kitchen, Transitional glazed cabinets, new larger single window- without grids. Beautiful tile backsplash (in expensive) Timeless Elegant neutral design, Silestone Counters for function. All new appliances

The somewhat modest size of this beautiful back garden does not keep it from fulfilling numerous duties for this active family. Closest to the house itself are a screened sitting porch and a large outdoor dining area. One passes through antique wrought-iron gates to transition from the upper patios to the lawn area, separating the house from the pool. Slabs of Pennsylvania flagstone create a walkway through the lawn and around the swimming pool. Synthetic turf was selected for this project, in order to minimize maintenance issues and to ensure perfect grass at all times. The covered, open-air pavilion directly adjacent the pool is constructed with hand-carved posts and beams. The concrete floor of the pavilion is stained to coordinate with the Pennsylvania flagstone decks. Housing the outdoor kitchen and bar area, as well as a TV sitting area, this poolside pavilion has become the favorite hang-out for the client's teenagers and their friends. Although our client wanted a curved line, natural pool, they wanted a bit of a modernized version, and something a bit more refined. One way we achieved this was by using long, sweeping curves around the perimeter of the pool, with hand-cut, and slightly chiseled, Oklahoma flagstone coping. Next, rather than using the typical boulders for the retaining wall, we set Oklahoma stone in an irregular flagstone pattern with butt-joints so that no mortar shows. The walls are capped with the same Oklahoma flagstone as is used on the coping. The spa is tucked in the back corner of the garden, and raised 20" above the pool. The spillway from the spa is created using a combination of long slab boulders along with smaller boulders, to create a gentle, natural waterfall to the pool. Further refinement is shown in neatly trimmed appearance of the synthetic turf between the large slabs of Pennsylvania stone that create the pool deck.

Our designers transformed this master bathroom into an beautiful, multifunction space. The coordinating quartz countertop and floor create an unusually elegant look and spacious feel in this modest-size corner bathroom. The make-up counter is positioned in between the two sicks, for ease and elegance.

Devereux Beach House Our client presented Flavin Architects with a unique challenge. On a site that previously hosted two houses, our client asked us to design a modestly sized house and separate art studio. Both structures reduce the height and bulk of the original buildings. The modern concrete house we designed is situated on the brow of a steep cliff overlooking Marblehead harbor. The concrete visually anchors the house to stone outcroppings on the property, and the low profile ensures the structure doesn’t conflict with the surround of traditional, gabled homes. Three primary concrete walls run north to south in parallel, forming the structural walls of the home. The entry sequence is carefully considered. The front door is hidden from view from the street. An entry path leads to an intimate courtyard, from which the front door is first visible. Upon entering, the visitor gets the first glimpse of the sea, framed by a portal of cast-in-place concrete. The kitchen, living, and dining space have a soaring 10-foot ceiling creating an especially spacious sense of interiority. A cantilevered deck runs the length of the living room, with a solid railing providing privacy from beach below. Where the house grows from a single to a two-story structure, the concrete walls rise magisterially to the full height of the building. The exterior concrete walls are accented with zinc gutters and downspouts, and wooden Ipe slats which softly filter light through the windows.

Modestly sized powder room appears larger due to base cabinet-less countertop and mirror. Note that mirror extends down to concrete countertop. Photo credit - F Carter Smith

Located on a wooded lot on the south side of Mount Orford in Estrie, this country house is designed to enjoy views of the wooded slope down to a stream at the bottom of the valley and rising to the opposite cliff. The south offers a splendid view of distant mountains. Of modest size, the house is simple, modern and showcases natural materials. It opens towards the forest and the landscape while preserving the intimacy of the customers. The interior is spacious; the living spaces are communicating and friendly, with a high ceiling above the living room and a large picture window in front of the master bedroom, on the mezzanine. The living areas open onto an outdoor terrace that anchors the house to its rocky terrain, protected from the weather and hidden from the street. The rock of the land is highlighted at the edge of the terrace, where a rock face down the slope. A large roof overhang protects the house from the sun in the summer, and the low-level concrete floors absorb sunlight in the winter. The house has been designed according to the criteria of LEED and Novoclimat.

Meyer and Meyer partnered in the design and construction of a modestly sized single-family residence located in a Historic District in a suburb outside of Boston Massachusetts. The initially undeveloped, gently sloping lot is uniquely situated in a residential neighborhood between an enclave of mid-century modern and Victorian-era homes. Within this context, the clients favored a traditional approach. Early formal iterations were traditional two-story colonial in form. However, in deference to the relatively lower roofed adjacent twentieth-century neighbors, a wholly expressed second story was abandoned and replaced with a two-gabled dormer connected by a shed in between. This gave the house a lower profile and began to suggest a more transitional character. In an effort to further this connection to a more eclectically permissible mid and late twentieth century detailing, a dramatic wrapping window was added to the kitchen located in the front corner of the house. In addition, a parallel wrapping window box below integrates the entire window composition into the generally traditional detailing of the house at large. Notwithstanding these features, all of the forms and detailing are solidly drawn from vernacular New England language. Ultimately, the goal was to comfortably transit aesthetically between the significantly disparate period styles of the adjacent neighborhood fabric, all the while maintaining the clients desire to work within a traditional idiom of detail.

Modest size kitchens where re working space created a more functional flow. Streamline cabinet styles make the space feel larger.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional dark wood floor kitchen remodel in Boston with shaker cabinets and white cabinets

Devereux Beach House Our client presented Flavin Architects with a unique challenge. On a site that previously hosted two houses, our client asked us to design a modestly sized house and separate art studio. Both structures reduce the height and bulk of the original buildings. The modern concrete house we designed is situated on the brow of a steep cliff overlooking Marblehead harbor. The concrete visually anchors the house to stone outcroppings on the property, and the low profile ensures the structure doesn’t conflict with the surround of traditional, gabled homes. Three primary concrete walls run north to south in parallel, forming the structural walls of the home. The entry sequence is carefully considered. The front door is hidden from view from the street. An entry path leads to an intimate courtyard, from which the front door is first visible. Upon entering, the visitor gets the first glimpse of the sea, framed by a portal of cast-in-place concrete. The kitchen, living, and dining space have a soaring 10-foot ceiling creating an especially spacious sense of interiority. A cantilevered deck runs the length of the living room, with a solid railing providing privacy from beach below. Where the house grows from a single to a two-story structure, the concrete walls rise magisterially to the full height of the building. The exterior concrete walls are accented with zinc gutters and downspouts, and wooden Ipe slats which softly filter light through the windows.